Unfortunately, the truth is that there is no set formula for becoming a respected writer. However I feel I understand your strife and hope the following advice will provide inspiration for you and help you get started.

Can you read this sentence? Do you own a pen? You do?! Fantastic, that's all you need to become a writer.

It is commonly said that every person has at least one book in them, the difference between those that actually manage to successfully write one and those that do not is this; the successful ones manage to bring writing to the forefront of their lives. When you manage to make writing the first and last thing you think of during the day, you'll then start finding inspiration everywhere.

Good things come to those who wait, don't get discouraged because you're not writing or you haven't found inspiration. It will come.

Don't Carry a Notebook

(at least until you feel it's completely necessary to do so).

Let's face it, You're not Ernest Hemmingway. 21st century society frowns upon people scribbling on pages of pretty new notebooks. It's an alien idea to many people and it leaves you vulnerable to being asked awkward questions such as "what are you writing?" and "why?". Trust me, getting asked these kind of questions will eventually have you putting the notebook in the drawer never to see the light of day again.

Don't carry a notebook until the day you feel confident introducing yourself as a 'writer' to your fellow commuters.

Write Daily

When starting out as a writer try to write for at least 15 minutes every day. You should however, not let writing become a chore. If you cannot find anything to write about, don't worry, as long as you have the intention to write then you're making some headway.

Learn from Those You Admire

Read the books you enjoy, analyse them, try to find out exactly what it is you like about them. In contrast to this you should study books you don't enjoy to see what it is about them that you don't like.

Trust your own taste and judgement and don't feel guilty about mimicking the style of your favourite author(s).

Never Throw Away or Destroy Anything You Have Written

So you've spent 3 hours working on your last piece of writing only to read through it and decide that it's complete rubbish? What should you do? Tear up the page or send it on a one way trip to the recycle bin? Absolutely not!

Don't dwell on the negative, hold onto everything you write regardless of how bad it is, if you do this you'll be able to look back at a later date and marvel at how your writing skills have improved over time. 

Brush Up on Your Basics

Until you are a well established writer you will probably have to be your own editor too. Spell-checker software will not pick up every little error so you will need to proofread every line. Brush up on your grammar, spelling and punctuation. Complacency here might be the reason you don't get published.

Know Your Subject

From time to time you may find yourself writing about topics you don't particularly know much about. Learn to enjoy the process of researching and learning about new topics. You should try not to tell your reader too much though. So you spent a week reading up about samurai swords so you could accurately describe one in your novel. This does not necessary mean you have to explain where it was made, what metal it was made from or where the metal was forged.

Try to take some time out of your day and look up articles that you would be interested in. If you read over it and comment, you could make a friend. Try post comments on different peoples articles giving your review to them, then maybe one time tell them they should check out some of your articles. If you make enough friends and talk with them frequently then you will generate a revenue of people to give you more views, and to let your voice be heard.

The second and biggest suggestion I have for you is to stumble your articles or to stumble friend's articles. Also, if you have any friends that have websites its not a bad idea to link a little bit of your work to their website. (If it is a good website it might even show up if you google it. If you are looking for more tips and tricks to making money and just friends, add me! Then just simply send me a message, I would be more than happy to read your work and give you a review.

At the simple request that you would do the same for people like me. Please don't add to the numbers of people that post and don't read anyone else's posts. Reading someone else's post will not hurt your popularity, commenting will actually help it!

(In alphabetic order)

1. Race (contest, conflict), running (escape)
2. Raid, reconnaissance, restraint, roundup, (capture, imprisonment)
3. Ransom, reclaim, recovery, release, relief, rescue,
4. Reasons/Reason/Rhyme (or, conclusions - the "why")
5. Redemption, rectify, remake, remedy, remodel, repair
6. Religion
7. Revelry - rally, rave, recreation, refreshment, recognition, reconciliation, remembrance, reunite, reward, (celebrations)
8. Riddle, rebus, (mystery)
9. Romance
10. Royalty, resplendent, regal, reign, rule, rank, Riches

Most of them start out by advising you to set aside some regular time each day, even if it's only 30 minutes, during which time you will put pen to paper and just go with the flow, setting down thoughts and ideas that flash through your mind.

Their advice is to rise from your bed half an hour early and use this time before anyone else gets up. Failing that, retire later at night, again utilizing this time for your penmanship. If you don't work during the day, then set aside a few precious minutes when everyone else is at school or work.

Fair enough, it's sound advice. But in an already busy and hectic life, where do you find this precious time?

Well, the answer seems to be, wherever and whenever you can.

At the moment I'm sat outside my daughter's school, scribbling on the back of the last school letter she brought home, and which I stuffed in my pocket (I knew there was a use for them!). It's not ideal, because I know that in five minutes time I'll be interrupted and my train of thought broken. But at least I am writing.

Of course it would be better if you could set aside regular time, but the demands of family life, combined with having to work for a living because you are not yet established as a full time writer, seldom give you the time and space required. There is always some minor catastrophe that demands you leave your writer's refuge.

So to me it wouldn't seem to matter when you write. Just do it. Whatever the time of day, if you have a pen and a scrap of paper, write!